almanack

The farmer checks his almanack for the planting schedule.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Annual calendar with astronomical data: An "almanack" is a yearly publication that includes a calendar of days, weeks, and months, often with astronomical information such as the phases of the moon, sunrise and sunset times, and tides.
   • Reference book of facts and statistics: It can also refer to a book published annually containing statistical, tabular, and general information on various topics, such as weather forecasts, agricultural advice, or historical events.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The old almanack predicted a harsh winter with heavy snowfall. (A yearly calendar with weather forecasts and astronomical data.)
  • He consulted the farmer's almanack to determine the best time for planting crops. (A reference book used for agricultural planning.)
  • The almanack listed all the major holidays and eclipses for the coming year. (A publication containing astronomical and calendrical information.)

Advanced Usage

• "to read the almanack": to consult a yearly reference book for practical or educational purposes.

  • The sailors read the almanack to plan their voyage around the tides. (They used the book to find tidal information.)

• "almanack of events": a chronological list of important occurrences in a specific field.

  • The sports almanack recorded every championship winner since 1900. (A yearly reference book of sports statistics.)

Variants and Related Words

• Almanac (n): a common modern spelling variant of "almanack".

  • The new almanac contains updated climate data. (A yearly reference book with current information.)

• Almanack-maker (n): a person who compiles or publishes an almanack.

  • The almanack-maker was famous for his accurate weather predictions. (A compiler of annual reference books.)

Synonyms

• Calendar: a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes.
• Yearbook: an annual publication containing reports of events, statistics, or pictures from the past year.
• Ephemeris: a table giving the positions of celestial bodies at regular intervals (more technical and astronomical in focus).

Phrasal Verbs

• (None directly associated with "almanack" as a noun.)

Related Idioms

• "as accurate as an almanack": meaning extremely precise or reliable, especially regarding dates or facts.

  • His memory for historical dates is as accurate as an almanack. (His recall is very precise.)

• "an old almanack": a metaphor for something outdated or no longer useful.

  • That advice is as useful as an old almanack from the 1800s. (It is obsolete and irrelevant.)